AYA Cancer Awareness Week: April 5th-11th

 

Today kicks off Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Awareness Week! This annual awareness week is an opportunity to shine a light on the unique challenges that teen and young adult cancer patients and survivors face.

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 70,000 young adults (ages 15 to 39) are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States, which accounts for about 5 percent of cancer diagnoses nationally.

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A number of AYA-focused nonprofits have great online content or are hosting virtual events this week. Here are a few we recommend that you check out. Be sure to also follow these groups on Twitter (their user handles are below) and use the hashtags #AYAWeek and #AYAcancer.

  • The Ulman Foundation (@UlmanFoundation) is hosting an AYA Online Support Group through Zoom on the evening of Monday, April 6th. Email Patient Navigator Megan Cannone at mcannone@ulmanfoundation.org to sign up. If you miss this one, visit their event calendar for future opportunities. Later this month, they’re holding a virtual meeting about medical marijuana.

  • Stupid Cancer (@StupidCancer) has a terrific webinar library with topics like fertility, nutrition, and mental health.

  • Fort Worth AYA Oncology Coalition (@FWAYAOC) is holding a Facebook live event on Monday, April 6th at noon Central time with a cancer survivor who also chairs the FWAYA Board. If you miss the live version, you can view the recording on their Facebook page afterward.

  • Lacuna Loft (@LacunaLoft) is offering a special one-night version of their Unspoken Ink writing workshop on April 9th, in honor of AYA Awareness Week. Learn more and sign up.

  • Elephants and Tea (@ElephantsTea) is an online magazine focused on AYA cancer. They have a special section on coping with COVID-19 and self-isolation.

  • Epic Experience (@EpicXperience) is hosting a variety of virtual programs to help you stay active at home, like yoga and ballroom dancing: See schedule.

  • The Samfund has a wealth of resources on topics like fertility, financial assistance, legal help, and tuition assistance. Explore young adult cancer resources.

Are you involved with a virtual AYA event this month? Send us a note so we can add it to our list and share.

We will be sharing AYA Awareness posts on social media all week long. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and share with your own network to help increase awareness for this often-overlooked group of young people. If you’re an AYA survivor, please share your story, tag us, and use hashtags #AYAWeek and #AYAcancer.

 
AwarenessJessica KeanAYA, awareness